Any way to get a title??

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gh32

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Awhile back i bought a '74 Dart Sport and it needed a few things so I also ended up getting a '73 Dart Sport for a parts car.Well after thinking it over a little the '73 is a pretty complete car,it's almost a shame to tear it apart.I'd like to build two cars instead of one if possible,but it didn't come with a title.It was an old abandoned car in a salvage yard,that the owner of the salvage yard just let the previous owner have years ago since they were friends or relatives or whatever.Then I bought it a couple weeks ago,but all I have is a bill of sell on the '73.The car is a straight car with a little rust in the quarters but fixable,a broken torsion bar,PS,PB,nice interior actually.It just has an old 318 in it that don't run but I'd like to fix the old car if there would be a good chance of ever being able to title and drive it. I've never messed with a no title car before and didn't know what all is involved with getting a title on an old car.My experience with the DMV has been annoying to say the least so I didn't know.
 
Not sure in your area but check with you local towing company. In Nevada they pick up abandon cars all the time and work with the local police and the DMV for the paper work. Usually less than 30 days if all clears you will have a clean title. It's a start.
 
My first stop would be the DMV since it varies by state regarding lost titles and abandoned cars
 
I know with the age, KS knows that many states do not give titles. It is my understanding that KS has the Highway Patrol come look at the car, check VIN, run VIN, and they issue paperwork that can get you a title. It may be bonded for a period of time, but then you are done.
 
Backtobasics said:
I know with the age, KS knows that many states do not give titles. It is my understanding that KS has the Highway Patrol come look at the car, check VIN, run VIN, and they issue paperwork that can get you a title. It may be bonded for a period of time, but then you are done.
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As long as I could get it tagged I wouldn't care as I don't really plan on selling it if I fix it.
 
There have been cases in Ohio where the cops helped people get titles, also here a lot of salvage yards can get the paper work to file for a salvage title, I'd check with them in your area.
 
If your state has private DMV service companies, I'd hire them to do it. They will know the ins and outs of that process. There are lien papers that can be filed to get ownership.
 
Good advice, talk to the local DMV. Can't hurt to take the info into a licensing place and ask, either. Worked well for me.

My Duster came out of a yard with only a bill of sale. I put it back together, and had it inspected. The guy wrote on the paperwork in big letters "REGISTRATION ONLY" and highlighted it, so I figured it would be a 3 year deal before I got my title. Title came in the mail a month later. :)

On my Valiant, I talk to a lady at licensing (took pictures in and all the info I could) and she gave me the name of the previous owner. She gave me a letter to get the guy to sign and off I went. Tracked him down in Cali, and spend a couple of months bugging him before he signed it. Took it back and got my title. This might not work for you as I think she kind of broke the rules for me. She never said so, but I'm not sure that if I had talked to someone else, they would have help me out like she did. I think part of what helped is I had pictures and info, not like I just walked in off the street with a memorized VIN.
 
DionR said:
Good advice, talk to the local DMV. Can't hurt to take the info into a licensing place and ask, either. Worked well for me.
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That would be good advice if you could find anyone who actually knew anything. Dealing with the MO DMV is absolutely the most frustrating thing I've ever dealt with in my life. Just about the time someone learns a little about the system, their contract expires and they get someone new in there. Dealing with Jeff City (DMV hq) is just as frustrating. You will get a different answer each time you talk to someone else. Check out the DMV website on titling an abandoned vehicle. That section is 42 PAGES long! One of the things you have to do is send a letter to the previous owner stating you are going to apply for an abandoned vehicle title. They then have 30 days to reply and let you know if they have any interest in the vehicle. That's all fine except the DMV won't tell you who the last registered owner is! Privacy laws, you know. Good luck finding a cooperative law enforcement officer to help you out. Most of them act like they are too busy to be bothered with it or act like you are some kind of criminal for having an old car without a title. Also they may decide you should get a salvage title instead of a clear one so you have the headache of streightening that out, too.
Anyway, enough of the rant. As said, the easiest way would probably be to let a towing company keep it on their lot for 30 days or whatever the time limit is and then apply for a title, that is if you can find one that will help you out. I don't know of too many that will mess with it.
A bonded title might be the best bet. I have seen a MO bonded title before but haven't been able to find anyone who can actually tell me the process for getting one.
I know of one guy who goes to court and gets titles but it's too costly to just do one. I think it's a mechanic's lein type of deal.
Anyway, good luck. If you find a fairly easy way to get it done, please let me know. I know of a few cars that should be fixed if they had titles. I hate to see any car junked just because someone didn't care about it years ago and didn't keep up with the paperwork.
BTW, if you could find an old insurance card, or better yet, and old pink slip or license renewal in the car, your job just got a lot easier. If you have the previous owners name you can just apply for a lost title. The title app has to have their name notarized but you can have it mailed to your address if you want.
Dallas
 
MOBodyman said:
That would be good advice if you could find anyone who actually knew anything. Dealing with the MO DMV is absolutely the most frustrating thing I've ever dealt with in my life. Just about the time someone learns a little about the system, their contract expires and they get someone new in there. Dealing with Jeff City (DMV hq) is just as frustrating. You will get a different answer each time you talk to someone else.
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I know what you mean,the License Bureau here in town is absolutely the biggest collection of retards I have ever messed with.Every time I go there with even the simpliest stuff,they make a major hassle and ordeal out of it.They're a bunch of important feeling retards that think they're a little more important than they really are.Anway,enough about the DMV,I could go on for hours,LOL Hopefully,I think my title problems may be straightened out.Now I just got to figure out what all I want to do to the car,big block,small block,wheel selection etc. These two old cars will probably keep me busy for years,lol.
 
BTW, gh32, do you go to the cruise-in at Sonic in Ava in the summer? I get down there a few thimes a year.
Dallas
 
Hey we live in the same town do I know u? im pretty Sure if u go to the licence buero they Will check the vin if it hasn't been titled in 15 years u can get a abandoned title or u can talk to the hey patrol
 
turbomopar said:
im pretty Sure if u go to the licence buero they Will check the vin if it hasn't been titled in 15 years u can get a abandoned title or u can talk to the hey patrol
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turbomopar, welcome to the site.
It used to not be too hard to get an abandoned title. Years ago a guy I knew got one in about 30 days. However it's more complicated now. Read my previous post. There are 42 pages of instructions. Look it up. You have to send a certified letter to the previous owner, except they won't tell you who that was. You have to get it inspected by the highway patrol, they will decide whether to give you a good title or a salvage one. If they decide salvage, you will have to get it inspected again once the car is finished. You will have to have receipts for everything you did to the car. So you will have 2 title fees, 2 Form 551s ($25 each) for the patrol, and alot of aggravation dealing with people who don't really seem to want you to bother them. And I've left out some of the steps. The last (and only) time I got an abandoned vehicle title, it took 6 months and 2 trips to Jeff City.
If you find an easier way to do it in MO, please tell me, I would love to know.
Dallas
 
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